Nothing can dampen the excitement of a golfer in the springtime. That is, unless you’re a golfer who also has seasonal allergies. Because then you know that with those first, glorious swings of the season, you’ll also get itching eyes, sneezing and wheezing. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you might be overlooking a piece of gear that can mitigate your allergy symptoms on the golf course.
Dr. John James, a board-certified allergist and AAFA spokesperson, says wearing sunglasses can improve your eye allergy symptoms.
“The pollen is floating in the air, especially when it's windy. It can get deposited on the eyes, in the nose and breathed into the lungs,” Dr. James says. “Sunglasses provide a physical barrier that will prevent that pollen from getting into the eyes. If those sunglasses wrap around, they can prevent pollen coming from the side and from the front.”
In other words, the more surface area your sunglasses cover, the more protection you’re getting from incoming pollen. So the wrap-around-style sunglasses we’ve been seeing many LPGA Tour players wear this year would make a great option for golfers looking to relieve itchy eyes during allergy season.
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Obviously, sunglasses won’t help you if your allergy symptoms are nasal or bronchial. But if your main issue is itchy eyes, putting sunglasses on while playing could make a big difference.
“Some people might just be bothered by allergy eyes, that are red, very itchy, swollen,” Dr. James says. “Some people are just miserable, they have bloodshot eyes and swelling, it’s really significant inflammation.”
On the golf course, pollen is coming at you from the trees, the grass and weeds. The timing of when each of these are pollinating depends on where you live. But trees pollinate first, followed by grasses and then weeds. And when they overlap, creating a compounding effect.
The more area your sunglasses cover, the less pollen can come in contact with your eyes and cause itchy redness.
Pollen is inescapable on the golf course, and Dr. James says pollen seasons are only getting longer and more intense. Though that’s not what any allergy sufferer wants to hear, Dr. James has strategies beyond wearing sunglasses to help you handle your allergies on course.
“There are ways to get people out there and be able to do what they want to do without being miserable,” Dr. James says.
Carry saline eye drops
If you’re really struggling with itching eyes, Dr. James recommends you carry saline drops to flush the pollen from your eyes during your round.
Talk to your doctor about medication
There are over-the-counter and prescription options that can help with allergy symptoms.
Check the pollen counts
It’s easier now than ever to see which days are going to be the most pollen-heavy. “Check your local news station, the Weather Channel, the Allergy Bureau,” Dr. James recommends. You may be able to pick and choose your tee times around high-pollen days.
Be strategic about when you’re teeing it up
“The pollen can be more prevalent in the early morning hours and later in the evening,” Dr. James says. If you can play during times of the day when there’s less pollen, your allergy symptoms will be less severe.